Research METHODS: Section 2

Question 1

operationalise

Answer 1

defining variables in a form that can be easily tested

Question 2

non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed)

Answer 2

doesn’t predict the expected direction of outcome

Question 3

Standardised procedures

Answer 3

A set of procedures that are the same for all participants in order to be able to repeat the study

Question 4

social desirability bias

Answer 4

A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.

Question 5

time sampling

Answer 5

observational technique where the observer records behaviour in a given time frame

Question 6

intervening variable

Answer 6

within a correlation, this variable comes between two others & used to explain their association

Question 7

extraneous variable

Answer 7

In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause unwanted changes in the DV.

Question 8

confounding variable

Answer 8

a factor other than the IV that has affected the DV

Question 9

hypothesis

Answer 9

testable statement

Question 10

AIM

Answer 10

the intended purpose of an investigation

Question 11

alternative hypothesis (experimental hypothesis)

Answer 11

states something other than chance alone has played a part in producing the results obtained

Question 12

directional hypothesis (one-tailed)

Answer 12

predicts the direction in which results expected to occur

Question 13

null hypothesis

Answer 13

states the findings of a study are due to chance & no difference will be found in the results from different conditions

Question 14

independent variable

Answer 14

variable manipulated by researcher

Question 15

dependent vaiable

Answer 15

variable that’s being measured

Question 16

three experimental designs

Answer 16

1) independent groups (diff participants used in each condition)

2) repeated measures (same participants used in each condition)

3) matched participants (participants matched in each condition on variables relevant to the experiment)

Question 17

advantage/disadvantage of independent group design

Answer 17

a: no problem with order effects, which occur when participants performance is positively/negatively affected by their taking part in two/more experimental conditions

d: potential for error resulting from individual differences

Question 18

advantage/disadvantage of repeated measures design

Answer 18

a: individual differences between participants removed as a confounding variable

d: range of potential uses is smaller than for independent group design

Question 19

pilot study

Answer 19

A small scale trial carried out at the start of an experiment to check design functionality, saves time & money